For me, the most important part of how I work is my relationship with you, the client.

My initial training and experience in counselling was Person Centered and I have more recently re-qualified and practiced in Humanistic Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Person Centered Counselling is based on the belief that the client intrinsically knows what is best for them and how to heal; the therapist’s role is to give them the space and environment to explore how they want to develop towards their goal. You may well be familiar with this theory which encompasses Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

Every client is unique and I am able to adapt my working method to suit each client.

I provide the core conditions of positive regard, empathy and genuineness. We would work on the ‘here and how’ issues…what’s happening for you right now, bring it into the room and explore it together.

In addition to this my training and experience has given me the tools to use other modalities, depending on a client’s needs. Psychodynamic theory relies on making the unconscious, conscious. In other words bringing issues that may be hidden, buried in the past and affecting everyday life and relationships. Psychodynamic work brings those issues into the present and works on resolving them in the present.

I have also used TA (Transactional Analysis) and Gestalt theories successfully with clients and combined some elements of CBT work.

Above all, I would say that I work ‘relationally’ with clients, building a relationship in which they feel safe and comfortable enough to deal with issues that they have held onto.

My teaching experience enables me to empathise with the nuts and bolts of the profession, and my counselling experience enables me to help you explore ways to move forward to a stronger, clearer sense of you.